Cervical Cancer Screening

HC Deb 20 March 1990 vol 169 cc994-5

2. Mr. Norman Hogg

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on cervical cancer screening.

The Minister for Health (Mrs. Virginia Bottomley)

The cervical screening programme forms an important part of our strategy to promote women's health. Between 1978 and 1988 deaths from cervical cancer in England and Wales fell by 10 per cent. to under 2,000 women per year and the death rate per million women aged 20 to 74 years fell by 16 per cent.

Mr. Hogg

Is the Minister aware that about 90 per cent. of the 2,000 deaths that occur each year could be avoided by a proper and effective screening service? What positive steps is she taking to ensure that her Department is providing an effective screening service? What improvements are there in uptake, and what is the hon. Lady doing to ensure that women at risk are aware of the services that are available?

Mrs. Bottomley

I entirely endorse the hon. Gentleman's point about the importance of the cancer screening programme. Regular screening can prevent deaths. We were the first country in Europe to introduce a national call and recall scheme for cancer screening. Great headway has been made with the scheme, but we are determined to improve on delays or difficulties in its implementation. Great successes have been achieved already and under the new contract we expect general practitioners to achieve targets, to ensure that they are proactive in encouraging women to realise the importance of health promotion and of having the test.

Mrs. Maureen Hicks

I have some of the most conscientious doctors in my constituency, but is my hon. Friend aware of the concern among many doctors, particularly in deprived areas, about encouraging people to come forward, to help them reach their targets? What should my message be to doctors who fear that there will be no incentive if they do not reach their targets?

Mrs. Bottomley

I hope that my hon. Friend will make it clear to those general practitioners that the payment for screening is part of the capitation fee. The intention of the target is to encourage doctors to go out of their way to help those who might not have realised the importance of screening tests. The lower target of 50 per cent. is achievable by most; the 80 per cent. target will be more of a challenge, but often health needs are highest in precisely the areas where there is a challenge.